Measurement of constraints’ influence on cassava value chain development and commercialization in Migori County, Kenya

Abstract: 
Cassava is perceived fictitiously as a poor man’s crop under neglect from most of the African farmers. But then, it has been noticed that it is consumed by both the rich and the poor, young and the elderly people under various settlement set-ups. Besides, its production still not optimized due to varied challenges attached. In Kenya, cassava is grown in relatively large scale in Nyanza, western and coastal regions with few patches in central and south rift valley regions. According to Food Agricultural Organization recent report, Cassava is an important food crop in Africa, and there are about 600 million people living on it. It is an important perennial crop whose roots serve as an important source of carbohydrates; in fact, most preferred staple food in some places, while others do grow it as a supplementary food crop to cereals. The study will be done in one of the leading regions in Kenya producing cassava for the significant results; Migori County. It is a county where there is immense cassava production, geographically located, experiencing weather conditions suitable for cassava agronomic activities hence giving a good study area for the sufficient and necessary data. There are three sub-counties with relative different levels of cassava production. For many years, the smallholder cassava farmers in the arid and the semi-arid areas as well as lowlands have been riding on production and marketing challenges which have made upgrading of their production a perennial challenge. There are strategies aimed at boosting cassava production and upgrading of its value chain and are dependent on: ongoing research efforts to multiply and distribute disease resistant and healthy cassava planting materials, farmers’ extension services on various technical aspects and raising awareness to develop appropriate actions in line with Kenyan cassava policy (MoA, 2007).
Date of publication: 
2018
Country: 
Region Focus: 
East Africa
Volume: 
17
Number: 
2
Pagination: 
218-221.
Collection: 
RUFORUM Working document series
Licence conditions: 
Open Access
Access restriction: 
Form: 
Web resource
ISSN: 
1607-9345
Extent: 
4